Evidence for polyclonal infection of Epstein-Barr virus in a patient with primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

We report a case of CD30 + primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma. The lymphoma cells were shown to express the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded small RNAs by in situ hybridization and to have EBV genomes by PCR, whereas no monoclonal band was detected by Southern blot analysis using the EBV terminal repeat probe. These data suggested polyclonal infection by EBV, which provides evidence that EBV plays little part in the pathogenesis of this tumour even in the infected cases.

[Renal transplant blood flow measurement using ultrasonic contrast agents].

We studied the renal transplant blood flow using an ultrasonic contrast agent. The contrast medium was injected intravenously and produced blood flow enhancement for at least 60 seconds. Measurements were made from the recorded Doppler spectra. Fourteen renal transplant recipients were investigated by color Doppler echography. Blood flow in the interlobular artery could be analyzed in all patients using a contrast, agent, as compared with 2 patients (14%) by a conventional method. The average maximum and minimum flow velocity of the interlobular arteries were 0.15 m/sec and 0.04 m/sec. In conclusion, an ultrasonic contrast agent is useful to accurately evaluate peripheral blood supply in renal transplants.

[Efficacy of contrast-enhanced color Doppler ultrasonography for the diagnosis of renal mass lesions].

We evaluated the efficacy of contrast-enhanced color Doppler ultrasonography with a galactose-based echo contrast agent, Levovist, for the diagnosis of renal mass lesions. The final pathologic diagnosis of eight renal mass lesions was renal cell carcinoma in 6 patients, transitional cell carcinoma in 1 patient and renal cyst in 1 patient (age range, 47 to 77 years; mean, 59.1). Especially in patients with renal cell carcinoma, contrast-enhanced color Doppler ultrasonography showed enhancement of mass lesion blood flow signal intensities. In all patients, contrast enhancement was demonstrated. Diagnostic capacity was improved in all patients, excluding 2 in whom mass lesion blood flow was detected by plain color Doppler ultrasonography. Furthermore, in patients with transitional cell carcinoma, the hemodynamics of mass lesions could be visualized, and diagnostic capacity was high. Contrast-enhanced color Doppler ultrasonography with Levovist, showed markedly higher mass lesion blood flow than that obtained by the plain color Doppler procedure, improving diagnostic capacity. This procedure was useful for diagnosing renal mass lesions.